Owning a dog comes with many responsibilities, and a big part of that is the financial cost. The expense of having a dog can be estimated anywhere from $1,400 to $4,300 per year; yup, it is no joke! However, it all depends on the breed, size, age, their needs, your lifestyle, and if you can find creative ways to be economical.
The Take-Home Purchase
Your initial investment is affected by choosing either from a breeder which could run you anywhere from $500 to $2,000, or from a rescue shelter which lands anywhere from $50 to $200.
Something important to keep in mind with mixed breeds and dogs with unknown medical histories could come with more health problems or complications that might end up costing you more.
Now, one of the top priorities once you have your pup, is to get them in to see the vet. Depending on what your dog’s needs are, that first visit will cost anywhere from $50 to $300. A new puppy will need to be seeing the vet every few weeks until they hit the 16 week mark and each one will cost $100-$300. After the puppy stage, the vet visits become far less frequent, but you definitely will want to get pet insurance because life throws unexpected curveballs at us sometimes.
Doggy Supplies and More
From dog food, dog beds, leashes, toys, treats, pee-pee pads, dog duty bags and so on, you’re looking at about $300 to $400, initially. It is also a great idea to look into a dog trainer for classes and resources for around $300 because you will likely be seeing them a couple times a week for six. Then we want to think about spaying or neutering the puppy to avoid any unwanted pregnancies which costs anywhere from $50 to $500.
The good news is that only the first year of costs will be twice the typical annual
Grooming
Grooming costs are all related to your dog’s coat. Short-haired dogs with smoother coats don’t need much in this department, but dogs with constantly growing hair need more frequent grooming visits. Getting the right grooming tools and proper visits to the groomer, will typically cost anywhere between between $100 to $500 a year.
If you are in need of a more convenient option like mobile grooming, download the Petlox app and we’ll have one to your door in no time!
Extras
Depending on your lifestyle and how much time you have in your day, you may want to look into professional dog walkers. Active dogs are healthy dogs and it keeps them in high spirits to go explore. For one walk a day, you’re looking at about $20 and if you have the service for every weekday, then you’re looking at about $433 per month.
We touched briefly on medicinal costs, but if they do have some health issues then they will be on medication that will also require an extra financial investment but it all depends on the specific needs of your dog.
Something to also consider, is the cost of pet sitters and boarding. Again, this is all dependent on your lifestyle and needs, so you may never do it but if you do take use these services it could cost anywhere from $100 to $300.
The best way to prepare for owning a dog is to save for the moment and to keep that savings replenished.
We hope his quick rundown of the cost investment of owning a dog has been helpful. If you don’t already, be sure to follow us on Instagram @Petlox for the latest updates on when we publish our blog posts, fun pet facts, beautiful pet photos and so much more.